Conference Programme

Danube Rectors’ Conference (DRC),Prague, November 22-23, 2012

Venue: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Rectors lounge Theme: Building bridges across turbulent waters

The conference will address contemporary trends in the development of universities operating in the Danube Region – a region with both EU and non-EU countries. Such composition of countries makes a challenging milieu for cooperation amongst universities in a unique political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and geographical area. The conference will address the possibilities of cooperation (networking) and various tools (e.g. financial possibilities) facilitating such cooperation. In addition to discussing these issues, the conference should provide a forum for face-to-face exchange of information amongst members of academic communities from all universities participating in the Danube Rectors’ Conference. As such, the conference will also demonstrate the power of networking in practice – in poster presentations of ideas for cooperation in research, education and university development.

10:05 – 10:10RektorJiři Balík, Rector of Czech University of Life Sciences Prague(introducing the conference and CULS)

10:10 – 10:20 UNIVERSITIES AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES:Přemysl Sobotka, 1st Vice President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic (welcoming address)

10:20 – 10:30 UNIVERSITIES AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES:Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (topic: International policy and international cooperation in the Danube Region)

10:30 – 10:50 UNIVERSITIES AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES:Prof. Ivan Wilhelm, government plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic for European research and Rector– Emeritus of Charles University – member of DRC (topic: The role of the universities in contemporary world)

10:50 – 11:20 UNIVERSITIES AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF THEIR ACTIVITIES:Wolfgang Streitenberger, EU Commission, DG Regional Policy (topic: EU regional policy and the role of universities: EU Strategy for the Danube Region)

11:20 – 11:40 UNIVERSITY NETWORKING: Prof. Václav Hampl, member of the Board of European University Association, Rector of Charles University Prague – member of DRC (topic: EUA, networking and benefits for the universities)

11:40 – 12:00 UNIVERSITY NETWORKING: Prof. Martin Gerzabek, President of the ICA Regional Network for Central and South Eastern Europe (CASEE) - a network of regional life sciences universities, and President of DRC (topic: CASEE as the example of starting networking – the first experiences and lessons for DRC)

12:00 – 12:15 UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH CENTERS NETWORKING: Guido Schmuck, EU Joint Research Centre (JRC), Head of Institutional and Stakeholder relations (topic: JRC and scientific support to EU Strategy for Danube Region)

12:15 –12:30 UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH CENTERS NETWORKING: Prof. Felix Unger, Spokesman of the Danube Academies Conference (topic: DRC and DAC are the voice of sciences in the Danube area)

12:30 -13:45 Lunch break

13:45 – 14:15 UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING: Thomas Estermann, Head of Unit Governance, Autonomy and Funding European University Association(topic: Governing universities: an overview across Europe)

14:15 – 14:45 FUNDING INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF UNIVERSITIES: Tania Pibernik, Central European Initiative University Network, executive officer(topic: The CEI and opportunities in the field of education)

15:30 – 16:00 FUNDING INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF UNIVERSITIES: Karla Wursterová, Executive Director of International Visegrad Fund (topic: Visegrad Fund: the possibility of networking and cooperation in the region)

Friday, November 23rd09:00 - 10:00 Open networking and open forum discussion (forum for posters presentations about possible projects in research and education among DRC member universities – suggestions of possible topics, presentation of university experience as the floor for starting networking)